SAF MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRAINING IN SHOALWATER BAY

The blast of a Leopard 2SG tank's main gun rips across the open field, breaking the silence. Right on cue, four AH-64D Apache helicopters file in from above, one after the other, firing into the distance.

The "enemy" is in disarray, and begins to move across the field. But the armoured fighters are not letting up. Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) begin to rain bullets on the moving target, accompanied by mortar bombs.

With a final explosion of fire from the Leopard tank, the target is finally taken down. The Armoured Battle Group (ABG) has achieved mission success.

Witnessing this air-land integrated strike at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, Australia on 20 Nov was Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen.

More than 4,000 SAF personnel and 400 SAF platforms are taking part in this year s Exercise Wallaby (XWB), which marks the 25th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) training at SWBTA.

Held from 28 Sep to 25 Nov, XWB 2015 saw the largest number of participating assets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which included AH-64D Apaches, CH-47 Chinooks and the Air-Land Tactical Control Centre.

Dr Ng, who had arrived in Rockhampton, Queensland after meeting his Australian counterpart Marise Payne the day before, expressed his appreciation to Australia for its support and cooperation with the SAF: "Over these last 25 years, the exercises (we held) have become more and more complex. I'm very happy to see that we are making full use of these opportunities (to train here)."

Noting the benefits of the large training space in SWBTA, Dr Ng said: "It provides our armoured soldiers and national servicemen credible opportunities (and) very realistic training to hone their skills. This is very important (in building up our) confidence and professionalism."

Brigadier-General (BG) Kenneth Liow, Chief Armour Officer and Exercise Director for XWB 2015, echoed his sentiments: "Exercise Wallaby, given the vast and extensive terrain here, allows us to really stretch out and exercise the units. We do so in terms of manoeuvres, evaluation and live firing. The terrain also allows us to conduct the live firing and manoeuvres in an air-land context as well."

Camp life at Exercise Wallaby

As part of his visit, Dr Ng met with RSAF personnel at Warriors Camp. The camp is the RSAF s new permanent base in Rockhampton and has a parking area that can hold up to nine Chinook helicopters.

"The very valuable training space - not just land but air allows us to constantly hone the skills of our personnel, in terms of their tactics, techniques and procedures (We can) launch our assets more quickly and in a more tactically realistic environment and scenario," explained Colonel (COL) Teoh Chun Ping of the move to Warriors Camp. He is the Exercise Air Director for frame three of XWB 2015.

Dr Ng also visited Camp Growl, where the troops had been based for XWB 2015. While most only resided in Camp Growl during their respective exercise frames, others, like the Forward Support Group s Military Expert (ME) 3-1 Balasubramaniam s/o Suppiah, arrived at Camp Growl three days before the start of the exercise and would only leave after all the soldiers had left.

As the Maintenance Overall In-Charge (OIC), ME3-1 Balasubramaniam saw to the shipping of all the SAF's wheeled and track vehicles to Rockhampton and back to Singapore.

It was a long and vigorous process, as he explained: "We took over the vehicles - all the different variants - from each individual unit and washed all of them. Then we had to go through another round of checks to ensure that all the vehicles were still serviceable.

"(And) because the Leopard tanks are huge vehicles, they could only be transported at certain times of the day, which was early morning or late night."

Stepping up to the plate

Despite the long period away from home and tough weather conditions, servicemen valued the opportunity to train at XWB15.

Lieutenant (LTA) Ken Nakamoto even extended his operationally-ready date (ORD) to participate in the exercise. A Deputy S2 in 40th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (40 SAR), he was able to play a commanding role at XWB 2015.

"Because my boss couldn't come, he gave me the opportunity to step up This will prepare me for my NSman (Operationally Ready National Serviceman) role as well," said the 21-year-old Intelligence Officer.

He credited his colleagues for making his XWB a memorable one: "The Regulars I work with are very professional. And the commanders in 40 SAR manage to find the sweet spot between being friends, commanders and colleagues.

"I feel comfortable working with them. These small things, like your branch mates and commanders, played a part in my decision to extend (my ORD)."

Like LTA Nakamoto, ME5-1 (NS) Alex Yang was glad to have the chance to contribute to XWB. Although the 38-year-old Managing Director of CWT Aerospace Services Private Limited had to juggle family and work commitments while in Rockhampton, he was heartened to see NSmen shoulder responsibilities just like the Regular force. An air force engineer, he is Officer Commanding of Integrated Maintenance Flight in 806 Squadron.

"NSmen form an important pool to fulfill the functions and roles that we are assigned to. If I were to think of myself as an outsider, I would be very uncomfortable taking on responsibilities," he said.

"We need to have the mindset that NSmen form an integral part of the fighting force I believe (the SAF's) doctrine today provides for that."